Some are saying the lyrics promote rape culture, while others strongly disagree.

Published November 7th, 2018

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While TWICE’s “Yes or Yes” has been achieving extraordinary success, it has also sparked some controversy with some claiming that it “promotes rape culture”.

TWICE’s comeback song, “Yes or Yes” talks about a woman who is trying to win over a man’s heart. In the lyrics, the woman gives the man the choice “yes or yes”, which some have understood as “disregarding consent” and hence, “promotion of rape culture”.

“Don’t know what you’ll choose, so I prepared these options. Choose only one of the two: Yes or Yes.” ㅡ TWICE’s “Yes or Yes”

According to the view of one netizen, TWICE’s new song “dismisses the importance of consent, promotes emotional manipulation/coercion and promotes rape culture.” The person, who asserts that she is a survivor, clearly expressed that she was personally offended by “Yes or Yes”.

It’s 2018 and Twice is literally out here singing a song that dismisses the importance of consent, promotes emotional manipulation/coercion, and promotes rape culture. As a survivor, I’m personally disgusted and upset. Twice and JYP crossed a horrible line. pic.twitter.com/d0f843c00i

like look into the lyrics, in interpreted them as just wanting someone to say yes but not necessarily forcing them into anything the whole ‘i respect your choice but reject your rejection’ to me means i accept the answer but im not happy about it

Twitter user @PaboBear cited the importance of the historical and cultural context when considering issues like consent in a relationship. It should be noted, however, that while many may not perceive the lyrics to be predatory because of “how power works in a relationship”, it is more than possible for women to be in the position of power in a relationship (and to abuse that power).

it is not perceived as predatory from a woman bc of the historical/cultural context of how power works in a relationship

So this stretch that Twice contributes to rape culture lacks any legs, pls try again.

Still other fans have pointed to the fact that the group’s title tracks have followed a “push-and-pull”-type theme pattern and, when looked upon as part of a series, “Yes or Yes” is TWICE’s first attempt at a “taking an initiative” type theme. Considering this narrative, the lyrics may be understood as an example of feminine “empowerment” (as TWICE’s Mina mentioned in an interview about the song).

Mina: The song is about a Woman who says what she wants [Doesn't hold it in]

Finally, ONCEs have pointed to the fact that there are no instances of TWICE “forcing” themselves on a man in the music video (in fact, there are no male characters in the MV at all) as evidence that the song does not promote the rape culture or a narrative of coercion.

Regardless of the intentions of the song’s producers, or the ongoing debates regarding the song’s various interpretations, TWICE’s new album remains a hot topic among their fans worldwide.